Process for the treatment of fruit for the prevention of decay



ted Sept. '3', 1926.

UNETD STATES PA EiT ENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM B. BARE-ER- AND 1301i A. HAWKINS, OF "WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUIL BIA, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.

PROCESS F531 THE TREATMENT FRUIT FOR THE PREVENTION'OF DECAY.

(We Drawing.

Application flied January at, 1926.

Serial No. 83,705.

(G-ZtfllTTED AWE HARGH 8, 1383; 22 STAT. L. 625.)

This application is made under the act of March 3, 1883, Chapter 143 (22 Stat.

625) and the invention herein described and claimed may be used by the Government of the United States or any of its officers or employees in the prosecution of work for the Government. or any person inv the United States, Without payment to us of any royalty thereon.

The object of the invention is the prevention of green mold decay caused by Pam' Gilliam digit/(Jami Szwc. of citrus fruits.

This invention consists of a process of treating fruit, particularly citrus fruit, with a compound formed by dissolving borax and boric acid in Water in the .proportion ap 'nfoxiinating one' part of borax to two parts o'l' boiic acid. This compound is rcadilysoluble in cold Water and will remain in solution in concentrations up to about S parts of the compound. to 100 parts of water at a ten'iperatureof 35 F. the solubility decreasing as the temperature is lowered. It is, however, much more soluble than either borax or boric acid alone, the solubility of hora): being 6 parts per 1.00 in cold water, while boric acid is soluble up to about 41- parts in 100 parts cold Water. There is then no danger of this compound.

v ettling or crystallizing out of the solution pictely control the disease. It has been shown that a concentration of this compound of3 parts in 100 parts of cold water prevents the growth of the common green mold of oranges and lemons caused by Penicillin-m digitatum Saoc. if the fruit in: fected with this fungus is soaked in the solution. An exposure of one minute in a solution of this compound in concentration of one part to 100 parts of water gives partial control of the disease but longer applications or higher concentrations are more effective.

The treatment with the above describedsolntion is accomplished by immersing, submerging, or causing the fruit to travel; through a receptacle or tank containing this solution ,in, such a manner that the entire surface of the fruit is Wet with the solution. The apparatus described by Barger, Hukill, and Hawkins in United States Patent Serial No. 1,559,733., dated. Nov. 7, 1925, it used for this purpose.

' We claim: I

A process for the prove-ration of deca o1 fruits by green mold caused by Pem'cz'l -z'um dz'g'z'tamm Sacc. consisting in the treatment of such'fruits with-a compound of borax and boric acid in the proportion of approximately one part borax to tWo parts boric acid, dissolved in water at concentration of one to 8 of Wat-er.

' WILLIAM R. BARGER.

LON A. HAWKINS.

parts of this compound to 100 parts 

